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Well finally got to match your 22* out in Grand Gulch in Utah.....wish I could say I was as warm as you though. Only real problem with my setup was the 35* primaloft bag that I was using. It was just reaching it's lower limits and was just barely warm not toasty. My pad + thermaquilt kept my backside plenty warm though. If I had my 20* bag I would have probably been doing great though. Scary thing was when we got back to the ranger station we found out that the mesa that Grand Gulch cuts through was 5* up on top

My setup consisted of a Warbonnet Blackbird (1.1 single layer with triangular rings and webbing straps and biners), JRB Nest and No Sniveler, a JRB weather shield and JRB 10x11 tarp. That setup kept me warm for most of the night (we estimated a low of 22 degrees). But I did wake up cold in the middle of the night and had to place my Gossamer Gear NightLight pad under me (cold butt syndrome), which kept my torso nice and warm underneath the rest of the night. I was hoping that I might be able to extend the range of my Nest with the Weather Shield alone.

Have you tried tieing one end closed of the JRB large tarp to stay a bit warmer?

I did initially have both ends of the JRB tarp closed off (pitched using the shorter ridgeline). I had some trouble getting a taut pitch due to the sloped ground that I was camped over. I found that those more complex tarp configurations are much more difficult to achieve on uneven ground. I eventually used guylines on the downslope side (with the upslope side staked directly to the ground) to get a nice tight pitch. I could have eventually closed off both ends by more messing with the guylines, but decided to stick with what I had. It's not evident in the picture, but I did have the foot end closed off slightly, and left the head end open primarily for easier access. Fortunately the wind died out that evening and was dead calm throughout the night, so I don't think that was the issue for me in staying warm. Thanks for the comment.

Originally Posted by HappyCamper

Have you tried tieing one end closed of the JRB large tarp to stay a bit warmer?

From those pics and others, it seems the Mogollon Rim country looks a lot like the Ochoco Mountains and other eastside ponderosa pine forests in central & eastern Oregon. 7000+ feet about= 4000 feet in central Oregon (?).

get on out here!
Arizona, believe it or not... has 5 of the 6 possible climate zones. The only state that can boast such diversity. We dont have sub-tropics of Florida and Hawaii, but we got everything else. most people think it's all sand, or dirt. we have a dozen peaks over 10k and a few above 11k and one over 12k.
also, ponderosa's here grow in micro climates and "pockets" down to about 3500 feet, but not in such thick woods as the higher climes. their normal habitat if you will, is around 5-11k'and here's the kicker... very few mosquitoes. its pretty dry around most the state. weird thing too - there is more ground water and springs/creeks down here near me at 1800' than there is at high country places like Flagstaff. Sections of the AZT up there can be miles, and miles without water sources.

get on out here!
Arizona, believe it or not... has 5 of the 6 possible climate zones. The only state that can boast such diversity. We dont have sub-tropics of Florida and Hawaii, but we got everything else. most people think it's all sand, or dirt. we have a dozen peaks over 10k and a few above 11k and one over 12k.
also, ponderosa's here grow in micro climates and "pockets" down to about 3500 feet, but not in such thick woods as the higher climes. their normal habitat if you will, is around 5-11k'and here's the kicker... very few mosquitoes. its pretty dry around most the state. weird thing too - there is more ground water and springs/creeks down here near me at 1800' than there is at high country places like Flagstaff. Sections of the AZT up there can be miles, and miles without water sources.

The one time I was lucky enought to visit, it was an awesome and beautiful place. Of course, Indiana is a little bland in most places...

"Every day is a new day to a better future" "Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done is not among them." ~ Mike Dooley"What if I told you that you couldn't have anymore of anything... No more friends, no more money, no more anything, until you first got happy with what you have?"~ Mike Dooley"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." ~ Socrates